1st Arab Architecture / Design Convention & Exposition 24-27 October 1999 Kuwait Lecture
Building Performance Evaluation An Integrative Framework For Architectural and Urban Design Projects Evaluation
Presented by:
Dr. Yasser Mahgoub Department of Architecture College of Engineering and Petroleum
Kuwait University October 26, 1999
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Introduction This lecture outlines a comprehensive approach to Building Performance Evaluation applicable to all architectural and urban design projects. The Building Performance Evaluation process encompasses functional and technical performance of buildings alongside human performance criteria, while recognizing the cultural context of the project. Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) offers feedback on design and contributes to architectural knowledge. October 26, 1999
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The Three Major Elements of Evaluation Technical
Behavioral
Functional
Cultural Context
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The Three Major Elements of Evaluation
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Six Phases of the Building Life Cycle The six phases of the building life cycle are: 1- Planning, 2- Programming, 3- Design, 4- Construction, 5- Occupancy, and 6- Recycling. October 26, 1999
Recycling
Planning
Programming
Occupancy
Construction
Design
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Participants in the Building Life Cycle Initiators: Owners - Investors - Institutions - Governmental Agencies - … Designers: Architects - Interior Designers - Landscape Architects - Specialists (Structural - Electrical - mechanical - …)
Builders: Contractors - Sub-contractors - … Operators: Managers - Maintenance staff End Users: the actual persons occupying the building October 26, 1999
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Linear Design Methods Architectural Knowledge Briefing Need Building Type Program Site Data …
Analysis …
Synthesis …
Evaluate …
Design …
Execution …
Linear Design Method
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Cyclical Design Methods Architectural Knowledge Briefing Need Building Type Program Site Data …
Analysis …
Building Performance Evaluation
Synthesis …
Evaluate …
Design …
Execution …
Cyclical Design Method
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The Theoretical Base of the BPE Concept Over the past 30 years efforts in this field turned out to be the process called PostOccupancy Evaluation (POE). In the USA, POEs derived their name from the “Occupancy Permit� which is issued when a building is completed, inspected, and deemed to be safe to occupy in accordance with building codes and regulations. In the USA, Canada, Australia and new Zealand, several government agencies have established ongoing POE programs in order to evaluate the performance of their facilities. After evolving over the past 20 years, POE feedback is now most commonly used in large corporations and in the institutional sector. In an attempt to improve upon building performance with each building delivery cycle, POEs are mostly used in situations where there are recurring construction programs or repetitive building types.
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Quantitative and Qualitative Measurements of Performance Many aspects of building performance are in fact quantifiable, such as: • • • • • •
Lighting, Acoustics, Temperature and humidity, Durability of materials, Amount and distribution of space, User satisfaction and so on.
The evaluation of qualitative aspects of building performance, such as aesthetic beauty or visual compatibility with a building’s surroundings, is somewhat more difficult to measure.
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Measurements of Performance Observed Performance – Measured by an expert or panel of experts. – Information is recorded with the help of a checklist during a walkthrough of the building.
Perceived Performance – Measured by the users or occupants of a particular environment. – In most cases this information is recorded by a questionnaire.
Measured Performance – Measured performance is captured through monitoring of physical phenomena.
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Measurements of Performance Evaluation Measured Perceived Observed Technical Fuctional Behavioral
Urban Building Room
Performance
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Scale
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Aspects of Building Performance Evaluation Aspect Scale Urban
Building
Room
Workstation
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Technical (measurement) Traffic Roads (pedestrian and vehicular) Pollution Noise Structure Fire safety Sanitation Ventilation A/C Building materials
Acoustics Lighting (natural and artificial) Environmental control A/C Ventilation Electric outlets Cabling Finishing materials Lighting (natural and artificial) Glare and stress Acoustics Sound Computer monitor Telecommunication
Functional (assessment)
Behavioral (satisfaction)
Personal experience (perception)
Parking Access (personnel and equipment)
Surroundings (nature and buildings)
Sense of place Dwelling
Entrances Circulation Corridors Elevators Stairs Organizational Communication Activities Utilities
Image Esthetic quality of exterior and interior Fire escape Way finding signs Crowdedness Proxemics Security
Sense of belonging Values Like and dislike Image Meaning Behavioral maps Way finding
Storage (type, location, distribution and size) Amount of space Area per person Security Flexibility (change)
Security Human factors Computer monitor Dimensions Size Furniture (chairs and desks) Seating arrangement Comfort Safety
Use frequency Privacy Distance Social interaction Control of access Colors Decorations Shapes Details.
Personal space Territoriality Privacy Social interaction
Fit Cognition Interpretation
Mental maps Fear Love and hate Personalization Stress
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An Integrative Framework for BPE Performance Criteria Market/ Needs Analysis PostOccupancy Evaluation
Recycling
Planning
Occupancy PostConstruction Evaluation
Effectiveness Review
Program -ming
Construction
Design
Program Review
Design Review
Performance Criteria
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Levels of BPE Effort There are three levels of effort at which BPEs can be undertaken:
• Indicative • Investigative • Diagnostic
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Levels of BPE Effort Indicative – – – – – – – – –
Quick, walk-through evaluations Selected interviews with knowledgeable informants Structured interviews with key personnel Group meetings with end-users Positive and negative aspects of building performance are documented Photography and/or notes Can be carried out within a few hours of on-site data gathering Executive summary results with prioritized issues and recommendations for action Indicates major strengths and weaknesses of a particular building’s performance.
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Levels of BPE Effort Investigative – – – – – –
More in-depth Interviews and survey questionnaires Photographic/video recordings Physical measurements Involve a number of buildings of the same type Take anywhere from a week to several months
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Levels of BPE Effort Diagnostic – Focused, longitudinal and cross-sectional evaluation studies – One or more performance aspects (e.g. stair safety, orientation, wayfinding, privacy, overcrowding, ...) – Resemble traditional in-depth research in a very focused topic area – From months to years – Requires highly sophisticated data gathering and analysis techniques
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The Application of BPE Institutions and Government Agencies Over the past few years, there has been an increasing concern for budget overruns, building failure, or inappropriate design decisions made during the planning and development of facility. Government agencies are interested in the performance evaluation concept and process in order to avoid these disadvantages.
Private Sector and Facility Managers There is an increasing acceptance of the performance evaluation concept and process in the private sector in order to solicit user feedback on existing buildings.
Design Firms While some design firms are fearful that BPE results may be used against them, and others are unable to convince clients to pay for evaluation studies. Evaluation studies today constitutes an important contribution in the quest to provide quality assurance.
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BPE Outcomes Short term outcomes – Feedback on existing problems in buildings – Identification of appropriate solutions
Medium term outcomes – Inform the next building delivery cycle – Database development
Long term outcomes – Generation of planning and design criteria for specific building types – Add to existing architectural knowledge
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BPE Outcomes Feedback from occupants combined with state-of-the-art knowledge: – – – – – – – – –
Improves building performance Measures quality in terms of health, safety and security Assesses functionality and psychological/cultural satisfaction. Adds to the state-of-the-art knowledge Recognizes local experience and contextual factors Saves cost of maintaining and operating facilities over the life cycle Improves morale of occupants and staff Creates databases Generates benchmarks/successful concepts and design guidelines
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Conclusions In summary, Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) identifies both successes and failures in building performance, with an emphasis on human factors and the interaction with the design of physical setting and building systems. If BPEs are made part of standard practice, it will help establish a performance-based approach to design. The benefits of BPEs are several: – – – – –
better quality of the built environment; greater occupant comfort more satisfactory experience in visiting, using, or working in a facility improved staff morale and productivity significant cost savings
Most important of all, building performance evaluation contributes to the state-ofthe-art knowledge of environmental design research and thus make significant contributions towards improving the profession of architecture.
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